Identity Theft Toolkit

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone’s identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, and Social Security Number in order to commit fraud.

What is Identity Fraud?

Identity fraud occurs when someone obtains another individual’s personal information and uses it to perform financial activities in that individual’s name. This could involve, but is not limited to, accessing that individual’s financial accounts, opening new credit card accounts, writing checks, opening bank accounts or obtaining new loans, etc.

How Can I Protect Myself?

While there is no guarantee that your identity will never be stolen, there are steps you can take to protect your identity and minimize the risk. The best weapons are knowledge and awareness. When you know what to look for and what to be suspicious of, you are well on your way to preventing fraud.

What You Can Do

The consequences of identity theft can be serious and often frustrating. Find out what you can do: